It's finally that time of the year when you can almost taste your next slice of king cake.
Whether you've lived in Louisiana your whole life or like to visit the Big Easy during Mardi Gras, chances are you've found a place that serves your favorite sweet treat that feels illegal to eat them outside of Carnival season.
Whether you prefer traditional cinnamon or one of the many variations you probably have a few go-to bakeries.
But we're curious, New Orleans — which bakery in the metro area makes your favorite?
Nola.com food experts Ian McNulty and Chelsea Shannon picked 35 of the top king cake purveyors. Some are institutions, others are up-and-coming spots and a few are hidden gems or tourist destinations. They sell king cakes in New Orleans, Metairie, the northshore and beyond.
Now it's time for you to weigh in.
Here's how to have your voice heard:
- Take our poll below and pick your favorite.
- This poll is not scientific; you can vote as many times as you want by simply refreshing the story page.
- If you have more than one favorite on the list, you can refresh the page and vote for a different restaurant the next time.
- Share our story with friends and tell them to vote, too!
The second round closes at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. The next round will be announced soon after.
Here are the 35 bakeries nominated in our king cake bracket:
- Adrian's Bakery
- Antoine's Famous Cakes
- Ayu Bakehouse
- Bittersweet Confections
- Breads on Oak
- Breaux Mart
- Brennan's Bakery
- Bywater Bakery
- Caluda's King Cakes
- Cartozzo's Bakery
- Caywood & Randazzo's Bakery
- Coffee & ...
- Coffee Science
- District Donuts
- Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant
- Dough Nguyener's Bakery
- Dorignac's
- Gambino's Bakery
- Gracious Bakery
- Haydel's Bakery
- Hi-Do Bakery
- Joe's Cafe
- Krummel's Mandeville Bake Shop
- La Boulangerie
- Loretta's Authentic Pralines
- Mad Batter Bakery
- Manny Randazzo's King Cakes
- Marguerite's Cakes
- Maurice French Pastries
- McKenzie Pastry Shoppe by Tastee Donuts
- Nonna Randazzo's Bakery
- Randazzo's Camellia City Bakery
- Rouses
- Sucre
- Tartine
Editor's note: Due to a technical error the first round of the king cake bracket was reset on Friday, Jan. 5.
